Implementing Strengthening Families Leadership Team Discussion C E N T E R F O R T H E S T U D Y O F S O C I A L P O L I C Y
Dec 07, 2014
Implementing Strengthening Families
Leadership Team Discussion
C E N T E R F O R T H E S T U D Y O F S O C I A L P O L I C Y
Strengthening Families began as a search for a new approach to child abuse prevention that:
Is systematic
Is national
Reaches large numbers of children
Has impact long before abuse or neglect occurs
Promotes optimal development for all children
Strengthening Families has inspired an approach to work with children and families that is:
Universally available, not targeted by risk
Focused on development and growth, not only on identified
problems
Delivered through new, powerful partners not typically identified as CAN prevention or
family support agents
new partners, existing systems
The initial research and tools supporting Strengthening Families were designed for the early care and education field
but during a 7-year state pilot…
States across the country have proven that the Protective Factors are a powerful framework for many child- and family-serving fields – it helps them do their own work AND work together with a common language
The Research Process
Step 1: Search the evidence to find out what factors really reduce child abuse and neglect
Step 2: Explore the connection between factors that prevent child abuse and neglect and what quality early childhood programs do to build them
Step 3: Identify programs that build the factors and learn how they do it
Step 4: Learn about policy and practice changes needed to infuse the model statewide through a partnership with 7 pilot states
Becoming a National Movement• 26 states are members of the Strengthening Families
National Network
• The initiative is being supported by a number of national organizations
• The model is being integrated into federal child abuse and neglect prevention strategies through OCAN
• More funders are supporting the approach
Brownsville, TX
High Point, NC
Ohio
Virginia
Other SF States
United Way Grantees
Washington State
Anchorage, AK
San Antonio, TX
Atlanta, GA
Los Angeles, CA
State Leadership Teams: What Generally Works• Membership includes but isn’t limited to key ECE
and CW leadership
• Parent Organizations are represented and parent representatives sit on the leadership team
• All members are also engaged in working groups.
• Membership is fluid
• Members are invited to use SFI as a vehicle for achieving other compatible goals
levers for change
Parent Partnerships
Family-Strengthening Child Welfare Practice
Infrastructure and Policy Changes
Early Childhood Systems Integration
Professional Development
States have worked in these areas to grow Strengthening Families initiatives and build sustainability:
strategies
protective factors
CAN prevention and optimal development
state and national strategies
parental resilience
knowledge of parenting and child development
social connections
concrete supports in times of need
social and emotional competence of children
Facilitate friendships and mutual support
Strengthen Parenting
Respond to Family Crises
Link Families to Services and Opportunities
Value and Support Parents
Facilitate Children’s Social and Emotional Development
Observe and respond to early warning signs of abuse or neglect
“Levers for Change”
Parent Partnerships
Family-Strengthening Child Welfare Practice
Infrastructure Changes
Early Childhood Systems Integration
Professional Development
Shifts in:
•Policy
•Resources
•Cross-Systems Relationships
•Support Structures
To support program implementation